Iran Offers Transitional Period Under Assad
Iran has offered to international mediator Lakhdar Brahimi a “period of transition” in Syria under the supervision of President Bashar al-Assad, said yesterday a senior Iranian official who was quoted by the Arabic-language television Al-Alam.
“We propose to stop the violence, declare a cease-fire, stop sending weapons and support for terrorist groups, and the organization of a national dialogue between the opposition and the government, “said Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
Tehran proposes a “transition period leading to the holding of presidential and legislative elections (…) and all under the supervision of President Assad,” he added.
According to him, the Syrian regime had given its “agreement” to that proposal. The Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on Sunday gave Brahimi, who was on a visit to Tehran, the “informal proposal” to end the conflict in Syria.
On Sunday evening, Brahimi had a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during which the Iranian leader reiterated the proposal of the Iranian government to help solve the Syrian crisis. Iran is “ready to cooperate and provide assistance to the Syrian people in order to establish peace and security, “said the Iranian president according to the presidency website.
